French America Line based in New Orleans, Louisiana is entering the Canadian market for its inaugural season, offering boutique US river experiences starting with the flagship Louisiane this August.

The Louisiane (formerly the Columbia Queen) is undergoing a multi-million dollar refurbishment. From her New Orleans homeport, sailings for a maximum of 150 guests will begin August 22.

The vessel’s small size allows her to navigate in narrow areas and access historic river ports on five American rivers that larger ships cannot reach, creating a unique opportunity to see and experience locations that haven’t been accessed by a US river ship in more than a decade.

“We are bringing a breath of fresh air to cruising America’s waterways by offering an exceptional product that redefines the American cruise experience and which can earn travel agencies a 15 percent commission on an average booking value of $8,000 per stateroom in our inaugural season” says Tom Markwell, president of French America Line.

The cruise line has partnered with Cruise Strategies Ltd. to provide sales and marketing support in Canada.

“We will be announcing various initiatives shortly to showcase the product to the Canadian retail professional along with marketing plans, commission levels and other agent-friendly sales tools”, said Vanessa Lee, president and CEO of Cruise Strategies Ltd.